This Cultural Life

Glenda Jackson talks to John Wilson about her most important cultural influences, including the impact of three key figures on her life and career: theatre director Peter Brook, film-maker Ken Russell, and Margaret Thatcher, who galvanised her to give up acting and move into politics.

Violinist Nicola Benedetti reveals the influences and experiences that have led her to become one of the world's greatest classical musicians.

Comedian, actor and composer Tim Minchin, the songwriter behind Matilda the Musical, reveals his creative influences.

Over six decades, Ken Loach has forged a reputation as Britain's foremost politically engaged film-maker, exploring issues of social justice, freedom and power. He has twice won the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival, in 2006 for The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and twenty years later, for I, Daniel Blake, a contemporary British story about unemployment and poverty.Ken talks to John Wilson about the key moments in his life that helped shaped his creativity. From his Midlands childhood as the son of a factory worker and annual summer holidays in Blackpool to his love for Czech cinema, which would become a huge inspiration on his own career. He also discusses his films for television such as Up the Junction and Cathy Come Home, which tackled abortion, unemployment and homelessness, and were each seen by more than 10 million people, while playing an influential part in the public debate about the issues.Ken Loach also chooses, as a major influence on his work, the real lives of ordinary people, whose stories have inspired his films throughout his career.

John Wilson talks to award-wining author Margaret Atwood about the experiences that shaped her writing.

Actor Whoopi Goldberg reveals the most important influences and experiences that shaped her own creativity.

TV writer and director Sally Wainwright talks to John Wilson about her formative cultural influences.

Award-winning artist Jeremy Deller discusses his career and creative influences with John Wilson.

Dame Judi Dench talks to John Wilson about her biggest cultural influence: William Shakespeare.

Singer-songwriter Boy George talks to John Wilson about his formative cultural influences.

Actor, comedian, presenter and writer Sir Michael Palin talks to John Wilson about his formative creative influences.

Actor Juliette Binoche talks to John Wilson about the formative influences that shaped her career.

Director and screenwriter Peter Kosminsky talks to John Wilson about the experiences and influences that shaped his career.

Oscar-winning film editor Thelma Schoonmaker talks to John Wilson about the turning points of her career.

Nile Rodgers, composer, producer, guitarist and founding member of Chic, talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences.

Sir Salman Rushdie talks to John Wilson about his formative creative influences and experiences.

Screenwriter and playwright Abi Morgan talks to John Wilson about her creative influences.

Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason talks to John Wilson about his formative influences, including his paternal grandfather, Jacqueline du Pré, Mstislav Rostropovich and Bob Marley.

Actor Gillian Anderson talks to John Wilson about her most significant creative influences and experiences.

Pete Townshend, songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of The Who, talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences.

Figures from the worlds of art and culture talk about their influences and inspirations.

Actor and film-maker Sir Kenneth Branagh talks to John Wilson about the key influences and inspirations that have shaped his own work.

Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo talks to John Wilson about the formative experiences and cultural influences that have had a profound effect on her work.

Film director Mike Leigh talks to John Wilson about the art and experiences that have shaped his own creative life.

In a deeply personal interview, artist Tracey Emin talks to John Wilson about the experiences that have shaped her life and career.

Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta talks to John Wilson about the key moments in his cultural life, from breakdancing in Havana to becoming principal dancer of the Royal Ballet.

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman talks to John Wilson about the influence on her career of working with great film-makers, including Jane Campion, Baz Luhrmann and Stanley Kubrick.

Playwright and artistic director of London's Young Vic theatre Kwame Kwei-Armah shares some of the influences that have had a significant impact on his work.

The world's leading classical solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie talks to John Wilson about her career and picks out some of the key influences on her artistic path.